REGIONS PREPARE: Runners train their sights on national championships

BY FEVERPITCH TEAM

Kiprono Lagat leads athletes at the KCB cross-country meet in Eldoret recently. All counties will organise their respective championships this weekend to select a team for the National Championships. [PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG’ / STANDARD]

Regions across the country will stage competitions as campaigns for places in Kenya’s team to the third Africa Cross-Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda, enter the homestretch.

In Kisumu, Wilson Langat and Marceline Cherono will light up the Nyanza North Regional Cross-Country Championships at Jomo Kenyatta Sports grounds on Saturday.

The competition, which brings together three counties, will be used to pick a team to the Kenya Commercial Bank/Athletics Kenya National Cross-Country Championships, which is an IAAF Permit Meeting at Ngong Race Course on February 15.

 Lang’at and Cherono, both from Homa Bay county, produced brilliant performances to secure their regional tickets at Asumbi Teachers’ Training College last weekend.

Langat won the men’s blue riband 12-kilometre race in 28:17.58 as Amos Matongo of Asumbi TTC (29:12.00) trailed.

Marceline Cherono of Mawego TTC wore the women’s crown in 31:35.00 with Asumbi TTC students Irene Jebitok (33:54.00) and Marceline Mumbwe in close tabs.

Walking A tightrope

But Benson Odhiambo of  Mbaga Mixed will certainly walk a tight rope in the men’s junior race, though he easily won the Siaya cross-country 8km title in an impressive 30:29.59 to win the eight kilometre junior men’s race at Siaya Municipal Stadium last weekend.

He will take on a rich field that include his runner-up Erick O Aketch Michael Owala, a pupil at Sigana Primary, who finished third 31:58.21.

Also in the mix are Derrick Okoth, a Mbaka Mixed student, and Brian Omondi from Ulafu Secondary School.

During the counties contests, Lilian Adhiambo (26:55.34) led Domtilla Achieng (27:20.20) of Kamnara Primary School and Nyamira’s Quinter Anyango who clocked 27:56.70.

Nancy Anyango, another star from Mbaga Mixed, clocked 29:18.57 as Zonica A Ochieng settled for fifth in 31:22.08.

Fresh graduates

In Machakos County, Jane Mwikali and Daniel Nziza will fly the Southern region high in senior races at the Machakos Stadium on Saturday.

Mwikali needs to be at her best to counter a legion of fresh graduates at the senior cadre.

Nziza, who finished fourth at the Kenya Prisons meet on Saturday, will slug it out with former World Junior 3,000m Steeplechase Champion Jonathan Ndiku Muiya in the men’s 12km race.

World cross-country bronze medallist, Patrick Mutunga, who has been missing from the local scene, will be itching for glory.

Nancy Nziza and Pauline Kaveke will spice up the women’s junior line up while Daniel Muindi and Muthwanthei Mumo lead the junior men’s onslaught.

Eldama Ravine will host the Central Rift contests while North Rift will stage their competitions in Pokot County. All athletes will then move to various camps before descending on the Kenyan capital for the National Championships.